Grace and peace in the Divine Word! The long wait is over. Since Thursday (February 7, 2008), the Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay has been flocked by our mission partners, parishioners and visitors from Abra (up North) to Zamboanga (down South). The SVD Tagaytay community was very busy preparing the seminary for the big event – the Dakit Class Presbyteral Ordination. THAT’S ME!!!

Their big day started with Friday’s highly emotional Parent’s Night. The parents of the ordinands were given tribute for giving their sons to the Society of the Divine Word. There was a flash presentation of the class’ journey from their Postulancy days to their Perpetual Vows. One by one, the ordinands also prepared songs for their parents. Did I say that the people were also moved to tears seeing the son-parents encounter on stage? It was a beautiful sight!

The Presbyteral Ordination was held at our Holy Spirit Chapel. Bishop Leopoldo “Pol” Jaucian, SVD, DD (Bishop of Bangued, Abra) was the ordaining prelate. His homily revolved around the theme of our SVD Philippine Centennial (1909-2009) celebration We Remember, We Rejoice, We Renew. He also recalled that our first SVD missionaries reached Abra through bamboo raft or dakit, from which the ordaining class got its name.

This is their mission assignments:

Fr. Arnold Biago, SVD — Congo, Africa

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Fr. Ricardo Crisostomo Jr. , SVD — Central America

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Fr. Michael Tangente, SVD — Ghana, Africa

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Fr. Ross Heruela, SVD — Philippine Central Province

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Fr. Rico Glenn Deuna, SVD — Philippine Southern Province

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I did not have pictures of the actual ordination rites because I was the main server of the celebration. It was also a blessing for me because I was there on the altar facing the ordinands in full view. But immediately after the Holy Mass, I immediately ran to the newly-ordained priests and took some photos:

i salute you, kapatid. it is very important for me to receive news from there, and this is one good news that you’ve shared with us. please give my regards to the newly ordained, especially to arnold. i wasn’t there physically, but i’ve remembered them in spirit. hopefully, when your “time” comes i can join you and your class. thank you and keep up the good spirit.jimmy,svdusw

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Greetings from Verbum SVD House of Studies!!! I am Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD - a religious missionary priest studying Development Communications at the University of the Philippines - Baňos, Laguna.